Californian Strawberries May Be Headed to the Mainland

Californian exporters are now one step closer to shipping their strawberries to the Chinese market after a recent draft protocol signing in Beijing, according to a release from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine’s (AQSIQ). The protocol was signed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Deputy Administrator for Plant Protection and Quarantine Osama El-Lissy, and AQSIQ’s Animal and Plant Department Director Li Jianwei…Full Article: Fresh Fruit Portal Mar 2016

Key Points

Chinese and US officials also discussed the potential future trade of US-produced avocados, nectarines, potatoes, sugar beet pulp, and alfalfa, as well as Chinese-produced citrus, broccoli, and dates.

In 2008, Californian strawberries were temporarily imported by Beijing to feed Olympic athletes.

China’s strawberry harvest season typically ends in May.

ChinaAg Comments

In April 2015, sampled strawberries produced from farms near Beijing were found to contain excessive amounts of the herbicide acetochlor. As a result of the herbicide scandal, strawberry production has suffered in provinces of Shandong and Liaoning provinces.

In 2013, China (nearly all to Hong Kong) imported more than 6,000 MTs of fresh strawberries.

From 2004 to 2013, China primarily imported strawberries from the USA, though South Korea emerged in 2009 as a solid secondary supplier. Australia and New Zealand were tertiary suppliers. Australia was second largest supplier in 2005. Nearly all of China’s strawberry imports were shipped to Hong Kong and not mainland China.